Defiant Knicks Dominate Game 5 to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
What a night it was at Madison Square Garden! With their backs against the wall, the New York Knicks came out swinging in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, delivering a statement 111–94 win over the Indiana Pacers. You could feel the urgency from the opening tip — it wasn’t just a game; it was survival. The Knicks needed a response after a crushing Game 4 loss, and they gave their fans exactly that: fight, grit, and hope.
Jalen Brunson was locked in from the start. He dropped 14 points in the first quarter alone and finished with 32 on the night, adding four assists. It was his 21st career playoff game scoring 30 or more — a Knicks franchise record he's been rewriting all postseason. Then there was Karl-Anthony Towns. Playing through a bruised left knee, he showed heart and determination, putting up 24 points and 13 rebounds. As Towns said afterward, “It was do or die. Nothing was going to stop me from playing this game.”
Also Read:- Queensland Spoils Blues’ Whitewash Dreams with Thrilling Game 3 Victory
- Could £10,000 a Month Change Your Life? Set for Life Draw Results Revealed
From tipoff to the final whistle, the Knicks never trailed. They completely flipped the energy after two tough home losses earlier in the series. Their defense was relentless, especially against Tyrese Haliburton. Just two nights after Haliburton had a monster 30-point triple-double, he was held to just eight points and couldn’t get into rhythm. The Pacers as a whole were out of sync, shooting just 40.5% from the field and committing 19 turnovers — a testament to how disruptive the Knicks were.
New York led 56–45 at halftime, and it only got better from there. Brunson opened the third quarter with a scoring burst that ballooned the lead to 20. Even when Indiana tried to claw back, the Knicks always had a response. A 12–0 run late in the third, capped off by a Brunson four-point play and a confident jumper from Miles McBride, all but sealed the deal. The Garden was electric, echoing with chants of “Knicks in seven!”
This win wasn’t just about the big names. Josh Hart was everywhere, finishing with 12 points and 10 boards. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges chipped in key buckets and contributed defensively. The Knicks’ cohesion, hustle, and refusal to quit were on full display — this wasn’t just a team playing to stay alive; it was a team reclaiming its identity.
Now, the series heads back to Indianapolis for Game 6. The Pacers still lead the series 3–2, and they'll have another chance to close it out at home. But the Knicks just proved they’re not done yet. Only 13 teams in NBA history have come back from a 3–1 deficit, and none have done it in the conference finals after losing the first two at home. But if New York plays like they did in Game 5? All bets are off.
This series has officially gotten serious. Game 6 is set, and if the Knicks keep that fire alive, we might just be headed back to the Garden for a Game 7 that could be one for the ages.
Read More:
0 Comments